A
couple of days later, a police officer rang the doorbell. "Officer Peters. What
can I do for you?" Kyle remembered the officer from his previous visit when he
had been raped.

"I need to speak to you for a couple of minutes. May I come
in?"

"Sure. Come on in." He stepped aside to allow the officer to
enter his living room. Always the thoughtful host, he asked "Can I get you
anything to drink, water, coffee, iced tea?"

"I'd love some tea, thank you. Nice place you have here."

Kyle froze momentarily when he heard that phrase, remembering
the last time he heard those words from a stranger in his living room. He
nervously handed the officer a glass of iced tea.

Noting Kyle's nervousness, the officer reassured him.
"Relax, Mr. Matthews. I just need to talk with you about the incident that
happened two days ago at the hospital."

"Sorry. The day I was raped the guy said the same thing you
did about my house. It just brought back a painful memory."

Officer Peters placed a hand on Kyle's arm. "I'm so sorry.
The last thing I want to do is cause you any discomfort." There was no doubting
the sincerity in his voice.

Kyle's gut told him that there was something else behind
those words, but he didn't give voice to it. Embarrassment warred with
curiosity for dominance as he remembered that this was the same officer who saw
him naked and handcuffed to his bed that horrible day. "So what did you want to
talk to me about?"

"The man you got into an altercation with is attempting to
file assault charges against you. According to him, you kicked him in the groin
several times."

"I kicked him twice, but that was after he grabbed me from
behind, stuck his tongue in my ear and sucker-punched me in the stomach."

"The security guard from the hospital said that he attacked
you and you responded to protect yourself so he has no grounds to file assault
charges against you. What I need to find out from you is whether or not you
want to file assault charges against him."

"Are there any charges against him now?"

"Yes. The hospital filed disorderly conduct charges against
him."

"What would happen to him if I don't press charges?"

"He'll probably get probation, a small fine and community
service. Disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor."

"If I filed assault charges against him, what would happen?"

"There would be a trial, at which you and the hospital
security guard would be key witnesses for the prosecution. If he were to be convicted,
he'd face a maximum of up to five years in prison, and a five-hundred dollar
fine."

"To the best of my knowledge, he's never been in trouble
with the law, so he'd want revenge. He's definitely the type that would come
after me after he gets out. What if, instead of filing charges against him, I
asked for an order of protection?"

"It would most likely be granted, but he'd be free to go
after someone else."

"That's unlikely. The only reason he came after me is he was
my first boyfriend, and since he took my virginity, he felt like I was his
property. I seriously doubt he'd go after anyone else." Kyle said, watching the
young officer's face for any signs of discomfort or a negative reaction to his
statement, which didn't happen.

"Okay, well, the choice is yours. Think it over and call the
precinct when you've made a decision." He stood up, glancing at the clock.
"Listen, I'm off duty as of two minutes ago. Want to go out and grab a beer?"
He asked, hopefully.

Okay, he's making his move. "I'm sorry, but I already have a
boyfriend. Besides, I don't drink."

"You misunderstand. I just want to be friends. I just moved
here a few weeks ago and I don't have anybody that I can hang out with and just
be myself."

"You don't have any friends on the force?"

"Not that I can be myself with."

"Why's that?" Kyle asked, pretty sure of what the answer
will be.

"Because I'm gay, and my precinct commander is a homophobic
prick. I'm not out at work."

Hmm...that has a familiar ring to it. "And that's all you want, is to be
friends?"

"Come on, look at me. There's no way in hell a guy as hot as
you could possibly be interested in someone like me."

"Don't put yourself down like that. You're very attractive
and you appear to have a nice body. While I don't know you, you seem like a
good guy. Surely there's a boyfriend somewhere."

"I never had one. If I was able to be out like you and your
friend, I might be able to find one, but not the way things are now. I
constantly have to look over my shoulder whenever I go anywhere. My commander
probably had me followed here and is wondering why I'm still here when my shift
is already over."

"Believe me, I understand. My boyfriend is in the exact same
situation only his is worse because he's with the FBI. It's hard on both of us.
He wants to be out, but if he did come out, his supervisor would revoke his
security clearance and fire him. Nine years of hard work down the drain. Have
you thought about transferring to another precinct?"

"I would totally love that, but I have no grounds to request
a transfer. I can't claim hostile working environment. That would be like
putting a nail in my coffin, so to speak."

"I think I know of a way to help you out, if you're
interested."

"What could you do?"

"I could make a phone call to someone who would love to help
you out, discretely, of course."

"That would be awesome! I don't know what to say."

"Let me give him a call right now." Kyle got out his phone.
"What's your first name?"

He dialed a number. "Hi, this is Kyle Matthews calling for
Dave Barton, please."

Greg's eyebrows were raised to the ceiling. "You know the
Deputy Mayor?"

"Hi, Dave, I'm doing fine, thanks for asking. And thanks for
all your help when I was raped. I really appreciate it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I
know. That's what family is for. Listen. I need a favor. Do you remember that
prick cop's partner, Officer Peters? Well as it turns out, he's having a rough
time over at the tenth precinct and wants to transfer out, but he doesn't have
any grounds to request the transfer." Kyle listened for a moment. "Actually,
he's right here. Let me put him on."

He handed the phone to Greg, who became very nervous.
"Hello?"

"Officer Peters? This is Dave Barton. How are you doing?"

He shot to his feet. "D-d-d-d-deputy Mayor, I'm fine, sir.
How are you?"

"I'm good, thanks for asking. I understand you're having
problems at your precinct?"

"Nothing I can't handle, sir."

"I have a feeling that you're not being completely honest
with me."

"I'm being as honest as I can be."

"Where are you right now? Are you on duty?"

"No sir. I'm at Kyle Matthews' house."

"I'll be there in ten minutes. I want to discuss this
further with you."

"Thank you sir, but I've already taken up more of your
valuable time than I have a right to."

"Officer Peters. You
will remain where you are. That is not a request. I will be there in ten
minutes and we will discuss this situation further." Dave said, sternly.

"Yes sir." He replied meekly as he hung up and handed the
phone to Kyle. "Some help. I'm in a world of shit with the Deputy Mayor. I'll
probably lose my job now." He said bitterly, turning an accusing eye to Kyle.

"I seriously doubt that."

"How do you know? You can't possibly know that."

"Ah, but I do, because I know Dave Barton quite well. Our
illustrious Deputy Mayor is openly gay, and the Police Commissioner had a gay
son. You have no fear of being canned for being gay. Neither of them will allow
open homophobia within the ranks of the police or fire departments. If they
find out about it, it's dealt with immediately and severely."

Soon there was a knock on the door. Kyle opened the door to
admit Dave, who gave him a bear hug. "I'm glad you're doing okay."

Dave smacked Kyle on the shoulder playfully. "Since when
have you ever introduced me as Deputy Mayor, especially in your house?"

"Since you got elected Deputy Mayor."

"Bitch!"

Greg took in their playful banter in awe. "It's a pleasure
to meet you, Deputy Mayor." He said respectfully as they shook hands.

"My name is Dave. I only use my title when I'm required to,
and this is not one of those times. Now, what kind of problems are you
experiencing at your precinct, and how can I help?"

"It's nothing more than the usual bullshit for the new guy."

"Why do I think there's something you're not telling me?"

Greg shot Kyle a frightened look as he was passing out
glasses of iced tea.

"Greg, would you feel more comfortable if I left the room
and allowed you two to talk in private."

"I can't ask you to leave your own living room."

"You're not. I'm offering."

"Please don't." He gave Kyle a look of pure terror, a look
that was not lost on Dave.

"Ah, I see. Let me guess. You're gay, and because of your
precinct commander, you're in the closet, but you don't want to be in the
closet. You want to be out, so you can feel free to meet other gay men and
perhaps find a boyfriend.Am I right?"

Greg hung his head. "Yes," he whispered.

Dave moved to sit on the couch next to him. He put his arms
around him and pulled him close. "There's no reason to hang your head. It
implies that you are ashamed to be gay. Are you?" Greg shook his head as his
arms slowly encircled Dave. All of his fears, frustrations and loneliness
spilled forth in a flood of tears that would not be denied. Kyle quietly
slipped from the room and started making dinner for the three of them. After a
few moments, Dave gently lifted Greg's head and brushed the tears away. He tilted
his head down and planted a tender kiss on Greg's lips. He released him and sat
back on the couch, keeping one arm around him as he got out his cell phone.
"Fred, Dave Barton. Listen, I need your help. It's come to my attention that
there is a young gay officer in the tenth precinct who is having a hard time
over there and is being forced to remain in the closet. Yes, the tenth. Okay,
I'll tell him. Thanks, Fred." He hung up and looked Greg in the eyes. "Tomorrow
morning at eight am you are to report to the Police Commissioner for
reassignment to the fifteenth precinct."

"The fifteenth? Where's that?"

"They patrol the area around the LGBT Center."

He looked at Dave with relief, love and appreciation shining
in his eyes. "I don't know what to say."

"How about saying yes to going out with me to celebrate?"

Greg threw himself on Dave. "Yes. Oh, yes." He kissed him
soundly just as Kyle came back into the room.

"The guest room is that way, guys." He pointed towards the
guest room. "Make it a quickie because dinner is ready. I hope you like
spaghetti, Greg."

"If you don't now, you will. Kyle makes a killer spaghetti
sauce." Dave stood, and taking Greg by the hand, led him into the dining room
where they enjoyed a wonderful meal, although if Greg were to be asked later
about it, he wouldn't be able to tell you what he ate or where he ate. He had
fallen hopelessly in love with Dave, feelings that were most definitely
returned.

After the dining room and kitchen were cleaned up, Dave and
Greg left for the club. Kyle declined the invitation as he was worn out from
the emotions of the last couple of days. He called Tommy, who answered on the
first ring.

"What's up, Kyle?"

"Not me, at least not at the moment."

"Asshole, I should have known I'd get a smart-assed
comment."

"Seriously though, how'd you like some good news?"

"Good news or good
news?"

"Some of both, actually. Do you remember the good cop that
showed up when you called nine-one-one after I was raped?"

"The partner of the ass-wipe who
threatened you and attacked me?"

"Yep, he came by earlier to ask me if I wanted to press
assault charged against Corey and..."

"Sorry. I thought I told you guys about that. Two days ago
when I was visiting Jay in the hospital I went to get something to eat in the
cafeteria. Apparently Pam was in the hospital having a baby and he was also in
the cafeteria. He tried to get me to go home with him because, according to
him, since he popped my cherry, so to speak, I belonged to him. When I refused,
he punched me in the stomach. Caught me totally off-guard which, given the
nature of our past relationship, shouldn't have happened. I should have expected
it."

"That...that...that..." Tommy sputtered, too pissed to speak.

"Oh, he got his." Kyle snickered evilly. "I did something I
wanted to do to him for years. I kicked him right in the balls. Not once, but
twice. A hospital security guard saw the whole thing and had him arrested.
Anyway, as it turns out, Greg Peters, the officer who was at the house the day
I was raped, is gay, and if I'm not mistaken soon will be, if he isn't already,
sharing Dave Barton's bed."

"You're shitting me."

"Nope, I called Dave because Greg was having a rough time at
his precinct and I thought he could help. He came over to talk with him
directly and they ended up staying for dinner. They couldn't keep their eyes
off of each other."

"Awesome."

"That's the good news. Are you ready for the good news?"

"Lay
it on me."

"Jay and I are getting back together. We made love in the
bathroom of his hospital room."

`Kyle, that's way beyond awesome. I'm so happy you didn't
give up on him." He replied through the tears. "We need to go out and
celebrate."